Short stories: Tall tales 40 Articles

by Sarah Bridgeman

"I have nothing to declare but my genius" Oscar Wilde upon entering New York customs in 1882 The lot of assistant to a self-declared genius' is not always an easy one. Take, for example, that now infamous declaration M...read more

by Donald Courtney

Sheriff & Deputy: Jed and his wife had just left Hadi's Cafe where they ate their breakfast. As they strolled over to the livery sable, a stagecoach was pulling onto the main street. Jed's first thought was that Bill was...read more

by Michelle N. Broughton

'GATOR BIT We gazed at the picture of two boys sitting on the bank under a half-dead weeping willow overlooking murky everglades water. "That was me and Hank, when we were kids. You probably don't remember him, but ...read more

by S. Tilghman Hawthorne

Once upon a time there was a tiny village in the heart of the rolling hills of Pennsylvania. It was a backwater, backwoods kind of place where everyone knew everyone and no one really cared. This little place was known ...read more

by A.J. Carron

"My Blue-eyed Gran" You know, when somebody works a 12hr nightshift for three consecutive weeks, with maybe only one or two nights off in between, he tends to drift into an altered state of consciousness and becomes, ...read more

by Donald Hancock

MALCOMB'S STORY The onions were there. The okra, the tomatoes, the cabbage - everything was in the pot - but where was the roast? Malcomb was supposed to bring a bit of beef as his contribution to the vegetable stew - ...read more

by J P Whickson

It was late that night, or perhaps early the next morning would be a better description. I'm a writer and my days and nights get turned around, since the muses seldom decide to visit at preordained hours. My office is in a...read more

by Tom Rinkes

An Unbelievable Day With Aunt Louise The highlight of my twenty-year career as a private eye had to be the time I was asked by my aunt, one Gladys Van Hoffman, t...read more

by Belladora

"Castle of Rubies" Once upon a time there was a king and queen who lived in a love filled castle that was famous throughout the world. It was called the Castle of Rubies. The Queen was known for her words of great love ...read more

by Joe Hayes

My cousin Zeke. Nothing in this story is true. That is if you do not believe in legendary were-beings like The Hulk, Superman or Spiderman and how they can change at will from their human shapes to another. Or w...read more

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by Roth Eomtalf

Reverse Reverse Psychology The manner of the mind games we are all subjected to involve double-reverse psychology. Example: When you are feeling normal someone tells you to "Wake up!" If it doesn't make you cross, ...read more

by Allan M. Heller

The Better Half of Nostradamus Michel de Notredame- Nostradamus, as he is known to the world- is remembered as an unnervingly accurate, if not optimistic, clairvoyant. Although his predictions have been subjected to n...read more

by Raleigh Stout

WISHFUL THINKING Chapter 1 It rained. Bernard thought that Hogeye looked dreary enough, but the approach of towering dark clouds with lightning made it even more imposing. He peered out the front window of Luciou...read more

by Patrick Sills

Infinity's Shore As I sit at the table with a bowl of cereal placed in front of me, I take the spoon and stir the contents around a bit as I try to work up an appetite. I got up around fifteen minutes ago, and my eq...read more

by Jedson

Advert Jokes: Rabbit for sale, white with pink painted dots on, two glued on wings, one blind eye, two legs / one wooden, half an ear, three teeth, pinned on tail. Hops in a circle and barks like a dog. It doesn't eat m...read more

by Stella Kaye

THE MORALISTIC TALE OF ARTHUR LEGG Arthur Legg didn't need a nickname. He discovered to his dismay on his first day at school that his real name was quite sufficient. And this, together with his obvious deformity often ...read more

by Dennis Jackson

"Throw it that way," I yelled. Gesturing across the river where there was a small rock statue that someone must have made a long time ago because there was moss and little barnacles plastered to it. "Ok" Trevor replied, as...read more

by Gary Tougher

THE TALKING KITCHEN After hours, the kitchen utensils were often in conversations with each other and sometimes these "talks" bordered on outright arguments. It was at times like these that the persons who lived in the ...read more

by Tamara Hunter

Trick or Treats in Davenport "She looked back at the car and saw the mass-murderer's hook stuck in the door." The collection of college freshmen gathered on the second story landing t...read more

by Marie-Luise Stromer

A TALL TALE - OR IS IT? I spend time and money to visit exhibitions in museums and galleries, however, Ive never bought an artefact as my taste is too expensive. But I would so much like to own one, postcards or posters...read more